Before air conditioning, superhighways and convenience stores on every corner, there were roadhouses. A must stop along the road. A place for an ice cold Falstaff and a basket of food. Once miles away from home, Club Schmitz retains the roadhouse feel despite the fact that Dallas has now grown up around it.

Home of big hair and big burgers, Club Schmitz is – as the say in Texas – a “hoot.” When you step inside this diner-sized place, one can’t help but grin from ear to ear. The door swings open like you are visiting a neighbor’s house. You will find people that look like they have been glued to their barstool for 50 years. But alas, you know that they must leave at some time; six packs of Pabst and Keystone among others are available to go.

The food menu of amply-portioned sandwiches and fried items is located on a pegboard on the wall. The food is very reasonably priced. It is easy to get filled up for less that five dollars. The onion rings are a must, and tell me somewhere else you can get a fried egg sandwich for sale in this century.

Located near Love Field Airport in an area of industrial and residential properties and closed on Sunday, only beer is served at this great joint primarily by the can or longneck. The crowd is a mix of old timers and young professionals all enjoying the feel of the place. A juke box, pool table, and big screen television mainly get in the way from a Club Schmitz patron’s purpose: drinking beer.

Established in 1946, Club Schmitz is a great diversion from the ultra modern restaurant and club scene that is Dallas and a great place to eat and drink if you have just a couple of bucks in your jeans. Ask the gal behind the bar with the bee hive hairdo if they have any “Get Schmitz-faced” T-shirts left. This T-shirt is a must as you take it back down the road. – D.M.